Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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213. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated first- and full-year cost of increasing the guidance counselling funding by 5%, 10% and 20% respectively, in tabular form. [28230/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department has committed considerable resources towards the restoration of guidance counselling hours to post-primary schools, to the provision of CPD for guidance counsellors and to the provision of a national guidance counselling supervision service for post-primary guidance counsellors in recent times.

The guidance allocation is provided separately and transparently on each school's staffing schedule.  These posts have been ring-fenced so they can only be used for guidance activities and to meet the guidance needs of the school. There are currently 950 whole time equivalent teaching posts (WTEs) allocated in the current school year in respect of Guidance provision in our second-level schools.

A 5%,10%, 20% increase in the guidance allocation would result in an additional 48, 95, 190 WTEs at an annual cost of €2.75m, €5.5m, €11m respectively.  This salary costings will rise in line with the Public Sector Pay Agreement 2024-2026.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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214. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the full-year cost of restoring the school libraries fund by €10. [28231/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Department’s data for schools under the Free Education Scheme 2023-2024 indicates there are 558,143 learners in recognised primary and special schools and 406,392 students in post-primary schools. Based on these preliminary figures, the cost of restoring the school libraries fund by €10 per student in academic year 2024-2025, would be as follows:

Number of pupils: 964,535

Cost in 2024-2025: €9,645,350 

Furthermore, the estimated additional costing in relation to the provision of libraries in schools would be substantial. For example the provision of a librarian in each school would have an estimated cost of €212,000,000 per annum. The provision would include many different factors in addition to librarians such as provision of the physical space, fixtures and fittings, IT facilities, librarian assistants, stock (physical and digital), national co-ordinator, professional development etc. In order to have accurate costings an evaluation would be required to include an assessment of the different school structures as each school type would require different works etc.

As the Deputy is aware, once off funding of €20 million was made available in May 2022 to enable all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme to improve their existing literacy resource banks. Support is being provided so as to ensure that schools can make best use of the grant funding within their schools. In this regard the Department is working with the Public Library Service. 

Webinars and the Public Library Resource Guide for Schools provides information for primary and post-primary schools to develop and expand reading and literacy collections within the school setting (www.librariesireland.ie/services/right-to-read/services-to-schools). The Public Library Supports for Schools are jointly agreed by the Department of Education and the Department of Rural and Community Development. 

A teacher’s card is made available to every teacher in every school, which enables each teacher to borrow items for his/her class. As no doubt the Deputy is aware, library membership is completely free of charge for everyone in every library in the country. Further information on the services to schools can be found at www.librariesireland.ie/services/right-to-read/services-to-schools.  Libraries Ireland also offer a Digital Library Service, and currently anyone with a library card can access the eBooks, Audio books and eLearning Resources. 

The Library Service published ‘The Library is the Place: National Public Library Strategy 2023-2027in July 2023. Under this strategy and the new Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy being developed by the Department of Education Department will further enhance the partnership with the Library Service to increase school usages of the resources that are available through the public libraries.

The Department issued a grant in 2023 to provide free schoolbooks for all children and young people enrolled in all recognised primary schools, including special schools. This grant has been extended, in 2024, to provide free schoolbooks for all Junior Cycle students in the Free Education Scheme. In 2025, this grant has also been extended, to provide free schoolbooks for all Senior Cycle students in the Free Education Scheme.  Where any surplus funding remains after all other schoolbooks and related classroom resources costs have been met, a school has the discretion to purchase library books, audio books and other material to increase the literacy (in English, Irish or other languages) and numeracy resources for their school.

'Ireland’s Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy 2024-2033: Every Learner from Birth to Young Adulthood' and five-year implementation plan was published in May 2024 by the Department of Education and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. This strategy aims to promote the development of essential literacy, numeracy, and digital literacy skills. Work is already underway in relation to action 1.3.5 of the Strategy, ‘Explore the potential for an expanded programme of library support services to ELC settings, primary and post primary schools’. 

I hope this information is of assistance to the Deputy.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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215. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of increasing the school ICT grant for primary schools by 10%, 20%, and 50% respectively in tabular form. [28232/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 and it's associated implementation plan is underpinned by funding of €200m over the course of the strategy, committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The funding allocation model is provided for in the National Development Plan and commits to funding to issue over the period of the NDP, applied by the Department for the Digital Strategy duration (to 2027 for the current strategy).

To date, €310 million has issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in ICT grant funding, under the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 and the current Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027. This funding has enabled schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure to enable the embedding of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment, in accordance with their digital learning plans.

The costings provided are based on the most recent ICT grant payment of €50m that issued during the 2023/2024 school year, however it should be noted that the actual ICT grant amount varies depending on the total allocation provided in the National Development Plan for the Digital Strategy. In addition, as this is capital funding, the broader capital needs of the Department will also determine the amount and timing of grant issues, particularly the school building programme.

ICT Grant 2023/24 - Primary

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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216. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of increasing the school ICT grant for post primary schools by 10%, 20%, and 50% respectively, in tabular form. [28233/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 and it's associated implementation plan is underpinned by funding of €200m over the course of the strategy, committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The funding allocation model is provided for in the National Development Plan and commits to funding to issue over the period of the NDP, applied by the Department for the Digital Strategy duration (to 2027 for the current strategy).

To date, €310 million has issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in ICT grant funding, under the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 and the current Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027. This funding has enabled schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure to enable the embedding of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment, in accordance with their digital learning plans.

The costings provided are based on the most recent ICT grant payment of €50m that issued during the 2023/2024 school year, however it should be noted that the actual ICT grant amount varies depending on the total allocation provided in the National Development Plan for the Digital Strategy. In addition, as this is capital funding, the broader capital needs of the Department will also determine the amount and timing of grant issues, particularly the school building programme. 

ICT Grant 2023/24 - Post Primary

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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217. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reducing the pupil-teacher ratio by one point at primary level. [28234/25]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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218. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reducing the teacher ration by one point at secondary level. [28235/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 218 together.

At primary level, teachers are allocated to schools at an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils, the lowest level ever seen at primary level. DEIS Urban Band 1 schools receive an average allocation of 17:1, 21:1 and 19:1 for junior, senior and vertical schools respectively.  The current pupil teacher ratio at post-primary level is 19:1 for schools in the free education system, and 23:1 for schools in the fee-paying schools.

Each one point reduction in the staffing schedule at primary level for DEIS and non-DEIS schools requires over 400 additional teaching posts, at a cost of approximately €22.5 million per annum. At post primary level a one point reduction would create circa. 1,200 additional teaching posts at a cost of approximately €66 million per annum. The salary costings will rise in line with the Public Sector Pay Agreement 2024-2026.

The estimated one-off capital cost of reducing the pupil teacher ratio by one point at primary level is circa €25 to €35 million, while at post-primary level it is circa €60 to €75 million.  This estimated cost is based on certain assumptions regarding the number of new teaching posts generated and available accommodation capacity.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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219. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated saving yearly for the abolition of the private school subsidy over five years. [28236/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Gross expenditure incurred by my Department last year on fee-charging schools was €144.8m.  This includes salaries for teachers and special needs assistants of €142.9m for the 2023/24 school year and capital supports (building-related and ICT grants) of €1.9m in 2024. The allocation of teachers in fee-charging schools is outlined in Circular 0006/2025: Staffing Arrangements in Voluntary Secondary Schools for the 2025/2026 school year. The allocation ratio applicable to fee-charging schools is currently 23:1, which means that the Department pays the salaries of one teacher for every 23 pupils in these schools compared with one teacher for every 19 pupils in schools in the free education scheme.

If the parents of children in the fee-charging sector chose to send their children to the schools in the free education system, the State would have to fund those school places at an increased cost. However, it is unknown how many pupils would transfer to the free education system if State funding for fee-charging schools was abolished.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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220. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing the Summer programme provision by 10%, 20% and 50%, respectively. [28237/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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Details of this year’s School-based Summer Programme were published on the 13 February 2025. Funding of €62 million was secured in Budget 2025 to ensure the continuance of the annual investment that has been provided for since 2021.  As in previous years, all of the funding will be utilised to meet the needs of our most vulnerable children.

All schools have an opportunity to run a programme over the summer months for those children who need it the most so that these children can continue to be supported, nurtured and encouraged to engage in a fun and inclusive educational setting.

The main priority again in 2025 is that those children with the most complex special educational needs, especially in special schools, should have access to a school-based summer programme.  Where their school is not running a Summer Programme or a place on a school-based programme is unavailable, the Home-based programme is also available for pupils with complex special educational needs. 

The Online Registration Portal for the 2025 School-based Summer Programme closed on the 11th of April 2025.  Currently, more than 1,800 schools have registered for more than 2,000 schemes in the 2025 Summer Programme. 

It is further anticipated that the increase in the number of children taking part in these schools will be even higher. The increase in registrations continues the positive upward trend in participation seen in the summer programmes over the last number of years.

The Summer Programme is reliant on schools and their staff choosing to participate on a voluntary basis. To this end, the Department will continue to engage with management bodies, schools and parents with a view to encouraging even more schools and more children to participate in the programme going forward.

The estimated costs of increasing the budget as suggested by the Deputy would be:

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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221. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing funding for Irish-medium education by 10%, 20% and 50%, respectively. [28238/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My department has different models of funding to meet the needs of the different types of school. In the ETB sector, financial allocations are made to ETBs as part of a block grant. ETBs are given a high level of autonomy in the management and appropriation of this grant and each is allowed to distribute its allocations in line with its priorities and needs, including to schools under its patronage providing education through the medium of Irish. As a result, the data requested is currently not available in relation to funding for Irish-medium schools in the ETB sector. I have asked my officials to engage with the ETB sector to see what can be done to facilitate access to this data going forward.  

Voluntary secondary schools in the Free Education Scheme, which are privately owned and managed, are funded by my department by way of per capita grants. Additional per capita grants, known as Irish and Bilingual grants, are paid to secondary schools in the voluntary sector in which instruction is through the medium of Irish in full or in part.

The cost of increasing this grant by 10% would be €62,000 per annum; by 20% would be €124,000 per annum; and by 50% would be €310,000 per annum.

Irish-medium primary schools outside of the Gaeltacht are in receipt of an increased capitation rate, currently €225 per pupil. The cost of increasing this funding in line with the Deputy’s question is not currently available but will be provided to the Deputy separately as soon as possible.

The Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme was established in 2017 to give schools in Gaeltacht language planning areas the opportunity to seek recognition as Gaeltacht Schools. Schools must meet specific language-based criteria to achieve this recognition. Additional targeted supports are provided to schools to support them in implementing the scheme.

One of the targeted supports is a grant of €1,200 paid to each primary and post-primary school participating in the scheme to purchase Irish language teaching resources to support high-quality immersion education provision.

The cost of increasing this grant by 10% would be €16,000 per annum; by 20% would be €31,000 per annum; and by 50% would be €79,000 per annum.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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222. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of 5%, 10% and 20% respectively incremental credits for teachers for the year 2025. [28240/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The criteria for the award of incremental credit are set out in the Department of Education and Youth’s Circulars 10/2001 for Primary teachers, and 29/2007 and 29/2010 for post-primary teachers. The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC).

Unfortunately, the detailed information sought by the Deputy is not available in my department.  

Teachers are paid on the basis of an incremental pay scale and will move up the pay scale on an annual basis where they satisfy the relevant criteria.  The department systems do not differentiate between specific costs where a person has moved up on the pay scale based on the award of incremental credit for recognition of previous employment or where they have progressed on the incremental salary scale in the normal manner.

In addition, the increase in salary between points on the scale will vary depending on which point of the scale a person is advancing to, with some points on the scale not actually incurring an increase in pay relative to the previous point on the scale.  This would mean that the cost of an increase in pay for a person receiving incremental credit will vary depending on the point of the scale a person would be advancing to.